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Glossary
adenocarcinoma
(AD-in-o-kar-sin-O-ma): Cancer that begins in cells that line
certain internal organs.
anesthetics
(an-es-THET-iks): Substances that cause loss of feeling or
awareness. Local anesthetics cause loss of feeling in a part
of the body. General anesthetics put the person to sleep.
anterior
mediastinotomy (MEE-dee-a-stin-AH-toe-mee): A
procedure in which a tube is inserted into the chest to view
the tissues and organs in the area between the lungs and
between the breastbone and spine. The tube is inserted through
an incision next to the breastbone. This procedure is usually
used to get a tissue sample from the lymph nodes on the left
side of the chest. Also called the Chamberlain procedure.
asbestos
(as-BES-tus): A natural material that is made up of tiny
fibers. The fibers can cause cancer.
aspiration
(as-per-AY-shun): Removal of fluid from a lump, often a cyst,
with a needle and a syringe.
benign
(beh-NINE): Not cancerous; does not invade nearby tissue or
spread to other parts of the body.
biopsy
(BY-ahp-see): The removal of cells or tissues for examination
under a microscope. When only a sample of tissue is removed,
the procedure is called an incisional biopsy or core biopsy.
When the whole tumor is removed, the procedure is called an
excisional biopsy. When a sample of tissue or fluid is removed
with a needle, the procedure is called a needle biopsy or
fine-needle aspiration.
bone
scan: A technique to create images of bones on a
computer screen or on film. A small amount of radioactive
material is injected into a blood vessel and travels through
the bloodstream. It collects in the bones and is detected by a
scanner.
bronchitis
(bron-KYE-tis): Inflammation (swelling and reddening) of the
bronchi.
bronchoscope
(BRON-ko-skope): A thin, lighted tube used to examine the
inside of the trachea and bronchi, the air passages that lead
into the lungs.
bronchoscopy
(bron-KOS-ko-pee): A procedure in which a thin, lighted tube
is inserted through the nose or mouth. This allows examination
of the inside of the trachea and bronchi, air passages that
lead to the lung, as well as the lung. Bronchoscopy may be
used to detect cancer or to perform some treatment procedures.
cancer:
A term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without
control. Cancer cells can invade nearby tissues and can spread
through the bloodstream and lymphatic system to other parts of
the body.
carcinogen
(kar-SIN-o-jin): Any substance that causes cancer.
catheter
(KATH-et-er): A flexible tube used to deliver fluids into or
withdraw fluids from the body.
chemotherapy
(kee-mo-THER-a-pee): Treatment with anticancer drugs.
clinical
trial: A research study that evaluates the
effectiveness of new interventions in people. Each study is
designed to evaluate new methods of screening, prevention,
diagnosis, or treatment of cancer.
cryosurgery
(KRYE-o-SIR-jer-ee): Treatment performed with an instrument
that freezes and destroys abnormal tissues. This procedure is
a form of cryotherapy.
CT
scan: Computed tomography scan. A series of detailed
pictures of areas inside the body; the pictures are created by
a computer linked to an x-ray machine. Also called computed
axial tomography (CAT) scan.
epidermoid
carcinoma (ep-i-DER-moyd kar-sin-O-ma): A type of
cancer in which the cells are flat and look like fish scales.
Also called squamous cell carcinoma.
external
radiation (ray-dee-AY-shun): Radiation therapy that
uses a machine to aim high-energy rays at the cancer. Also
called external-beam radiation.
internal
radiation (ray-dee-AY-shun): Radiation therapy that is
given internally. This is done by placing radioactive material
that is sealed in needles, seeds, wires, or catheters directly
into or near the tumor. Also called implant radiation or
brachytherapy.
IV:
Intravenous (in-tra-VEE-nus). Injected into a blood vessel.
large
cell carcinomas (kar-sin-O-mas): A group of lung
cancers in which the cells are large and look abnormal when
viewed under a microscope.
laser
(LAY-zer): A device that concentrates light into an intense,
narrow beam used to cut or destroy tissue. It is used in
microsurgery, photodynamic therapy, and for a variety of
diagnostic purposes.
lobe:
A portion of an organ such as the liver, lung, breast, or
brain.
lobectomy
(lo-BEK-toe-mee): The removal of a lobe.
lymph
nodes: Small organs located throughout the body along
the channels of the lymphatic system. The lymph nodes store
special cells that fight infection and other diseases.
Clusters of lymph nodes are found in the underarms, groin,
neck, chest, and abdomen. Also called lymph glands.
lymphatic
system (lim-FAT-ik): The tissues and organs that
produce, store, and carry white blood cells that fight
infection and other diseases. This system includes the bone
marrow, spleen, thymus, and lymph nodes and a network of thin
tubes that carry lymph and white blood cells. These tubes
branch, like blood vessels, into all the tissues of the body.
malignant
(ma-LIG-nant): Cancerous; a growth with a tendency to invade
and destroy nearby tissue and spread to other parts of the
body.
mediastinoscopy
(MEE-dee-a-stin-AHS-ko-pee): A procedure in which a tube is
inserted into the chest to view the organs in the area between
the lungs and nearby lymph nodes. The tube is inserted through
an incision above the breastbone. This procedure is usually
used to get a tissue sample from the lymph nodes on the right
side of the chest.
mediastinum
(mee-dee-a-STYE-num): The area between the lungs. The organs
in this area include the heart and its large blood vessels,
the trachea, the esophagus, the bronchi, and lymph nodes.
metastasis
(meh-TAS-ta-sis): The spread of cancer from one part of the
body to another. Cells in the metastatic (secondary) tumor are
the same type as those in the original (primary) tumor.
MRI:
Magnetic resonance imaging (mag-NET-ik REZ-o- nans IM-a-jing).
A procedure in which a magnet linked to a computer is used to
create detailed pictures of areas inside the body.
nonsmall
cell lung cancer: A group of lung cancers that
includes squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and large
cell carcinoma.
oat
cell cancer: A type of lung cancer in which the cells
look like oats when viewed under a microscope. Also called
small cell lung cancer.
pathologist
(pa-THOL-o-jist): A doctor who identifies diseases by studying
cells and tissues under a microscope.
photodynamic
therapy (fo-toe-dye-NAM-ik): Treatment with drugs that
become active when exposed to light and kill cancer cells.
pneumonectomy
(noo-mo-NEK-toe-mee): An operation to remove an entire lung.
pneumonia
(noo-MONE-ya): An inflammatory infection that occurs in the
lung.
prophylactic
cranial irradiation (pro-fih-LAK-tik KRAY-nee-ul
ir-ray-dee-AY-shun): Radiation therapy to the head to reduce
the risk that cancer will spread to the brain.
radiation
therapy (ray-dee-AY-shun): Radiation therapy (also
called radiotherapy) uses high-energy radiation from x-rays,
neutrons, and other sources to kill cancer cells and shrink
tumors. Radiation may come from a machine outside the body
(external-beam radiation therapy) or from materials
(radioisotopes) that produce radiation that are placed in or
near the tumor or in the area where the cancer cells are found
(internal radiation therapy, implant radiation, or
brachytherapy). Systemic radiation therapy involves giving a
radioactive substance, such as a radiolabeled monoclonal
antibody, that circulates throughout the body.
radioactive
(RAY-dee-o-AK-tiv): Giving off radiation.
radionuclide
scanning: A test that produces pictures (scans) of
internal parts of the body. The person is given an injection
or swallows a small amount of radioactive material. A machine
called a scanner then measures the radioactivity in certain
organs.
radon
(RAY-don): A radioactive gas that is released by uranium, a
substance found in soil and rock. When too much radon is
breathed in, it can damage lung cells and lead to lung cancer.
resection
(ree-SEK-shun): Surgical removal of part of an organ.
respiratory
system (RES-pih-ra-tor-ee): The organs that are
involved in breathing. These include the nose, throat, larynx,
trachea, bronchi, and lungs.
side
effects: Problems that occur when treatment affects
healthy cells. Common side effects of cancer treatment are
fatigue, nausea, vomiting, decreased blood cell counts, hair
loss, and mouth sores.
small
cell lung cancer: A type of lung cancer in which the
cells appear small and round when viewed under the microscope.
Also called oat cell lung cancer.
sputum:
Mucus coughed up from the lungs.
squamous
cell carcinoma (SKWAY-mus. . .kar-sin-O-ma): Cancer
that begins in squamous cells, which are thin, flat cells
resembling fish scales. Squamous cells are found in the tissue
that forms the surface of the skin, the lining of the hollow
organs of the body, and the passages of the respiratory and
digestive tracts. Also called epidermoid carcinoma.
surgery:
A procedure to remove or repair a part of the body or to find
out if disease is present.
thoracentesis
(thor-a-sen-TEE-sis): Removal of fluid from the pleural cavity
through a needle inserted between the ribs.
thoracotomy
(thor-a-KAH-toe-mee): An operation to open the chest.
tissue
(TISH-oo): A group or layer of cells that together perform
specific functions.
tumor
(TOO-mer): An abnormal mass of tissue that results from
excessive cell division. Tumors perform no useful body
function. They may be either benign (not cancerous) or
malignant (cancerous).
x-ray:
High-energy radiation used in low doses to diagnose diseases
and in high doses to treat cancer
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